Using tough defense and the resulting opportunities in transition, the Chargers opened up a six-point lead after one quarter and ballooned the margin to 23 at halftime en route to a runaway 75-61 victory in their conference opener over Raleigh Christian.

Wilson Christian of the North Carolina Christian School Association 2-A East ranks, after dropping its first six contests, improved to 2-6 ahead of opening the Charger Christmas Classic on Friday night against Alamance Christian.

Senior Brice Murray was the catalyst for the Chargers, pouring in 29 points.

Eleven different Chargers scored as senior Zach Hunter was the other Wilson Christian player in double figures with 10.

WENDELL — A different picture for the Southern Nash High varsity boys basketball team to open its 2018-19 season is just eight points away.

Falling to 2-3 with an 81-79 overtime loss at Corinth Holders on Wednesday night, the 3-A Big East Conference Firebirds dropped their second contest in the extra period this season and, in their three losses, have stumbled by a combined total of eight points.

Victory was close for Southern Nash in overtime, but the Firebirds missed a layup, allowing the 4-A Northern Athletic Conference Pirates (4-1) to take the lead.

Another layup to force double overtime awaited the Firebirds, but it was missed with two seconds to play.

Southern Nash, which shot 27 of 75 from the field for 36-percent accuracy, was led by the double-double of senior Darius Edmundson following a 21-point, 12-rebound showing.

Three other Southern Nash players finished in double figures, including junior Michael Parker with 13, senior Artavius Allen with 11 and freshman Jackson Vick with 10.

The Firebirds made eight 3-pointers, three each from Allen and Parker. Vick was one rebound shy of a double-double with nine.

Southern Nash returns home Friday to face Nash Central, its former rival in the 3-A Big East Conference.

WENDELL — The Southern Nash High varsity girls basketball team held a one-point lead at halftime, but a scoreless third quarter allowed host Corinth Holders to pull away for a 48-33 victory on Wednesday.

Corinth Holders, members of the 3-A Northern Athletic Conference, moved to 4-1.

The Ladybirds are home to Nash Central on Friday.

SOUTHERN NASH (33)

Nicholson 12, Foster 8, Taybron 2, McCalston 2, Bailey 6, Winner 3.

CORINTH HOLDERS (48)

No scorers available.

Score by quarters:

Southern Nash812013—33

Corinth Holders1451613—48

INDOOR TRACK

CBA boys continue ECC success

GOLDSBORO — With the inaugural 3-A/4-A Eastern Carolina Conference indoor track championship at stake later this year, the Charles B. Aycock boys continued to cement themselves as contenders by winning their third straight meet Wednesday.

CBA’s boys turned in three first-place showings, including Quevion Henderson’s jump of 5 feet, 2 inches in the high jump. In the 3,200-meter run, Matthew Stoudt was first in a time of 12:49, while Davis Carroll conquered the 1,000-meter run in 2:56.4.

Four third-place finishes were secured by CBA’s girls, including Trinity Person in the 55-meter hurdles, Taylor Nevin-Burke in the 1,600-meter run and Elizabeth Carmack in the 1,000-meter run.

Carmack and Nevin-Burke were part of the 4x800 relay team for CBA that finished third alongside Courtney Williams and Kristen Ridgle.

“This was a big win for our men’s team to pull out their third consecutive first-place victory this season,” CBA coach Joseph Otellio said. “ It’s really big in the fact that this is the first season CBA has competed in a conference for indoor track. If we continue on this successful path, I see no doubt that we can become the first-ever ECC 3A-4A conference champions for indoor track.”

JUNIOR VARSITY

Cyclones drop close one in OT

The Community Christian School girls basketball team fell 26-23 in overtime to Wayne Christian on Thursday night inside Barney Williamson Gym on the campus of Eastern North Carolina School for the Deaf.

The Lady Cyclones were led in scoring by Lexi Gardner’s 13 points. Ashley Abrams and Abigail Jackson also contributed 4 and 3 points, respectively.

CBA reaches 4-0, dumps Princeton

PIKEVILLE — Trever Reid’s 16 points led all scorers Wednesday afternoon as the Charles B. Aycock High boys basketball team won its fourth game without a loss following a 53-36 win over Princeton.

Omarreyon Johnson had 13 for the Golden Falcons, with Quintavious Barnes, Ashton Perozeni and Chase Hare all netting six points each.

For Princeton, Harley Bartholomew paced the Bulldogs with 12 points. Zion McPhatter had nine and Jayden Brooks finished with seven.

CBA is at Wayne County rival Goldsboro on Friday.

Tigers claw SE Halifax 59-49

The Wilson Preparatory Academy boys basketball team used a strong third quarter to pull away for a 59-49 win over Southeast Halifax on Wednesday.

Trailing by one at the half, WPA (7-1) outpaced Southeast Halifax by nine in the third quarter to take control.